Lilbi can be explored on several levels: through archaeological finds, the development of the place name and a well-preserved settlement pattern. The village also offers leisure activities and places to eat. When planning your trip, you can choose between cultural and landscape themes on the one hand, and minigolf, an adventure course and local cuisine on the other.

Archaeological Finds and Local History

Between 2016 and 2024, a farmer from the village of Lilbi handed hundreds of prehistoric objects he had found on his land over to the Saaremaa Museum. The finds include Viking Age silver coins and the first animal-shaped weight discovered on Saaremaa. Two time periods should be distinguished: 2016 to 2024 refers to the period when the objects were handed over, while the objects themselves date from earlier periods. The coins are explicitly attributed to the Viking Age; the weight’s animal shape and its status as the first find of its kind on Saaremaa give it particular significance. The history of the finds thus includes both a large number of objects and individual items that are clearly distinct.

The place name is recorded as “Lilpe Jurg” in 1630–1631 and as “Lilbi” in Latin script around 1900. Lilbi (Lilby) was an independent manor in the 18th century; between 1744 and 1750, it was separated from Uuelõve and Vanalõve. The history of the name and the history of the manor offer different ways into the past: the forms of the place name mark points in time, while the information about the manor describes a distinct chapter in the history of the settlement.

Settlement Pattern and Landscape

Among the settlements recorded on the plan, the centre of Lilbi has the best-preserved arrangement of farmsteads, stone walls and roads. A man-made pine forest borders Lilbi to the west. The settlement pattern and the western edge of the forest are two distinct, clearly defined features of the local landscape.

On a larger scale, Lilbi is a typical example of a settlement landscape with a clustered settlement pattern in the southern part of the former Kaarma-Suurvald.

Activities and Dining

The adventure minigolf course at Holiday Village Suur Töll in Lilbi has nine holes and features various sights of Saaremaa. The Holiday Village also has a low adventure course. These offer a choice of two different activities: minigolf with an island theme or the adventure course. Check availability before your visit.

The Suure Töllu Körts tavern in Lilbi serves homemade food and traditional Estonian dishes made with fresh produce from the island. It complements the leisure activities with a culinary focus, describing both the style of cuisine and the origin of the produce. Menus and opening arrangements may change; check both before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Kuressaare, Siiksaare, Raugi, Kuralase, Koguva, Orissaare, Mustjala, Pamma.

For the broader travel overview: Saaremaa.